BANG, BANG...

I got some bangs. I like them. I hope they are less "molly mormon hot-dog roll bangs," and more "mod stylish and hip bangs."
You vote.

LOVE LOVE LOVE MY...

I figured if Oprah can do a "favorite things" show, then I can too. I don't demonstrate quite as much "stuff-itis" (the inflammation of the need for stuff) but I definitely have stuff that I love and wish not to do without.
It's used and has a dent in it, the battery only lasts about 20 min without being plugged in. So it's more of a desktop than a laptop but I love my PowerBook G4


My new fetish with the handmade jewelry on MD Sparks Etsy. (thanks to team firth) Kevin purchased this little number for me on Valentine's day. I can't wear them without getting endless compliments.


I have about 5% natural fashion sense. So I have to do research in an attempt to leave the house looking somewhat different than the stereotypical "mormon" in her late 20's. Key word in the previous sentence is "attempt." I love to read People Style Watch Magazine.


Last love for today's post is Veggie Crisps by Sensible Portions..... mmmmm good. And good for you!

DAY 2 OF SKIING WITH THE GERMANS

Christian, the German


Snowbasin Gondola... the only way to travel to the top of the mountain


Start gate of the 2002 Olympic Men's Downhill

I worked some magic last Sunday and got my shift at the hospital covered on President's Day. We spent the day skiing at Snowbasin with the Germans. The day started out socked in with clouds so we stuck to the diamond and John Paul. The wamr sun came out after lunch so we hit up the Olympic Tram for a few photo ops at the start of the Mens Downhill Ski Start. We had a pretty fabulous day and although the snow wasn't epic, the group we spent the day with was.

SKI, FOOD, AND VALENTINES

Valentine's day was great, far from the traditional. Kevin and I stray from the red roses and teddy bear style of Valentine's, so here's our spin on V-day. Breakfast of German Pancakes (Kevin made), off to ski together with some real Germans (Kevin was the ski-tour guide for the owners of his dad's company) at Deer Valley Resort. Great snow, a few powder runs and then a complimentary lunch from our friend, the Head Chef Alex of the world famous Seafood Buffet. Skied some more and then home to throw a Valentine's Dinner party for 7 couples. We ate wonderful lasagna, salad, breadsticks, trifle, and chocolate dipped strawberries. We took 3rd place in the newlywed game and played guitar hero until midnight. My idea of the perfect day.


Zagat rated "One of America's Top Restaurants." Seafood Buffet Menu included:

The Natural Buffet - Menu Changes Nightly
SELECTIONS MAY INCLUDE:
* Fresh Dungeness and Opillio crab
* Mountains of tiger shrimp
* Freshly shucked oysters
* Sushi - California roll and Tekkamaki
* House-smoked salmon with traditional condiments
* Caesar salad with fresh Parmesan and homemade herb croutons
* Spinach salad with maple-roasted bacon, sliced mushrooms and honey mustard vinaigrette
* Herring in a red wine vinaigrette
* International and domestic cheese with sourdough toast and roasted garlic
* Homemade breads

Hot And Cold Appetizer Station
SELECTIONS MAY INCLUDE:
* Bourbon BBQ and cilantro lime glazed baby back ribs
* Steamed New Zealand clams with a smoked tomato, fresh herb and white wine sauce
* Firecracker shrimp with homemade Dijon remoulade
* A Napoleon of crab and avocado with a lime wasabi cream
* Brazilian fish stew
* Seasoned calamari with Caribbean chutney
* Thai spring rolls

Carvery Station
SELECTIONS MAY INCLUDE:
* Roast prime rib of beef with natural jus
* Glazed muscovy duck breasts with Pinot Noir reduction sauce and fresh thyme

Hot Entree Station
SELECTIONS MAY INCLUDE:
* Skillet-seared Pacific yellowfin tuna with a wasabi cream
* Honey soy glazed blue nose bass with a fresh ginger sauce
*Daily fish specials
* Fresh made pasta of the day
* Deer Valley roasted-garlic mashed potatoes with wild mushroom sauce
*Freshly sautéed baby vegetables
From the Bakery
SELECTIONS MAY INCLUDE:
* Vanilla bean crème brûlée
* Apple tarte Tatin
* Espresso shortbread, rugelah, gingersnap cookies, house made truffles
* Caramelized pear tart
* White chocolate bread pudding with poached cherries
* Raspberry truffle brownie
* Praline panna cotta with hazelnut crème anglaise
* Lemon meringue Napoleon
* Coconut macaroon tart
* Chocolate pots de crème
* Chocolate snowball

By Request
LIVE MAINE LOBSTER
Available by pre-order only (72 hours) and requires a surcharge

CLEANING IS CHEAPER THAN THERAPY

I used to eat when I was stressed... Now I clean.
Before: (FYI: this is NOT what my kitchen looked like before I cleaned... it's what it looked like WHILE I cleaned.) My kitchen is usually clean... just not meticulously.




After 12 hours of cleaning, bleaching, organizing, and wiping out the inside of every drawer and cupboard, behind the stove, inside the refrigerator and freezer, window seals, and replacing all items to a conveniently clean home.






A clean house is a happy house!
Next... the Bathroom!

INFERTILITY AND WAITING TO ADOPT IS.....

*****CAUTION***** EMOTIONAL RANTING FOLLOWS...Hopefully I won't be miss-understood in this post... I am so blessed, so loved and so happy! I'm not perfect. I feel vulnerable and sometimes I just need to let my emotions be naked and and true. Feel free to look away.*****






INFERTILITY AND WAITING TO ADOPT IS...
-Being enemies with your own body.
-Buying and reading books on baby care, and hiding them when company comes.
- Wanting like crazy to "just look in the baby section of the department store, but feeling so out of place that I have to remind myself that "infertile" is not really stamped on my forehead.
-Wanting to look at your baby someday and see their father in their eyes.
-Snapping at friends who ask innocent questions, and not meaning to. I wish I could explain, but...
-Seeing the cutest maternity outfit in the store window, but having no reason to buy it.
-Trying to rejoice with your friend on her second (or third, or fourth) pregnancy. (Because if I don't show pure joy, than I am interpreted as a bitter, jealous, selfish brat.)
-Doctors... hating them... worshiping them... hating them.... worshiping them...
-Feeling guilty for receiving a mother's day card out of pity.
-Picking a name for your baby, only to grow tired of it 7 years later.... or your best friend stealing it because she got pregnant first.
-Always going to other people's houses for dinner because they don't want t have to get a babysitter, and it's much more convenient this way...
-Feeling guilty for voicing my emotions and sounding ungrateful for all I've been blessed with.
-Falling apart. Getting hysterical. Feeling like I'm losing my mind.
-Knowing (better than most) how conception happens, yet having to put up with stupid advice, crude jokes, and probing questions. (Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do!)
-Redefining "Woman" (Yes, I still am one!)
-Feeling empty and sad almost all the time... even when everything else in my life is perfect.
-Having an extra bedroom for guests, and wishing it were a nursery.
-Being afraid to take aspirin or do sit-ups.... what if I were pregnant.
-Needing to grieve but not really knowing how to.
-Worrying that by the time we get to watch our children play community rec. sports... we'll be as old as the grandparents watching too.
-Not having anything in common with anyone your age anymore because their lives revolve around their children.
-Forever feeling miss-understood as a selfish, bitter, and sad person... when I'm really a loving, hopeful, happy woman who is very grateful for everything she has... but still wants the chance to be a mother.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE THAT GIRL #3

Since discovering the world of tennis in the 7th grade I have not explored many other sports. When I was a young girl I attempted to play a few sports including; softball, soccer, gymnastics, and dance. I had no natural talent in any of the above sports but I enjoyed the competition. (My juniors tennis coach always said I had NO natural talent at tennis either... but I worked harder and had more heart than any other girl who walked on the same court as me.) My soccer career ended immediately after the 1st season in grade school. I got confused about switching directions half way through the game, I was afraid of the ball and I was more worried about how fat my legs looked with shin-guards on. (So what did I turn to? Tennis.... a sport where a small rock solid ball flies at your face instead of your feet and at quadruple the speed of a large soccer ball and court rotations happen after every single game..... what was I thinking?) Needless to say, I haven't really touched a soccer ball since 2nd grade. I only dated boys that played the sport and I really only watched the game to see cute, sweaty guys run back and forth. The same reason I go to the REAL games now!

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE THE GIRL WHO: Loves to play Indoor Soccer! Kday and I went to an indoor field with our friends last weekend and my stomach was filled with butterfly's, I didn't know where to stand or what to do with the ball when it came my direction. But I am damn competitive and I wasn't going to let those boys beat me. I sucked, except for the beginners luck goal assist that I made, but I couldn't get off the field! I haven't had the stamina to play a sport like soccer before and I really loved it. I am hoping to take some sort of lessons from my friends who know something about the sport and add soccer to my current list of League Sports I'm participating in. Tennis, Volleyball, and now Soccer! I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD LOVE SO MANY SPORTS, OR BE FIT ENOUGH AGAIN I love my new lease on life!